CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo for an official visit as Egypt and China marked 70 years of diplomatic relations. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi greeted Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. The airport reception was also attended by First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This trip marks Xi’s first visit to Egypt in ten years. It highlights high-level discussions focused on strengthening bilateral political, economic, and development ties in Cairo.
The Egyptian Presidency announced that El-Sisi and Xi would explore ways to deepen their partnership. Their talks include economic collaboration, development initiatives, and political coordination. They will also review the progress of the Egypt-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, launched in 2014. Discussions will cover regional and international issues of mutual concern. Since establishing the strategic partnership, the two leaders have maintained regular presidential contact to expand their relationship.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. Formal ties were established in 1956, making Egypt the first Arab and African nation to do so with the People’s Republic of China. Both governments emphasized this milestone during Xi’s visit preparations. El-Sisi and Xi noted the growth of bilateral cooperation over the past decade, especially in trade, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
Seventy Years of Growing Cooperation
Economic relations now form a vital part of the Egypt-China partnership. In 2025, bilateral trade reached approximately $20.78 billion, according to Egyptian officials. This is an increase from about $17.37 billion in 2024. China remains Egypt’s top trading partner for non-oil goods. In the first half of 2026, Egyptian exports to China totaled around $840.8 million. Imports from China were about $10.4 billion during the same period.
Overall trade between Egypt and China hit roughly $11.3 billion in the first half of 2026. The previous year’s figure was approximately $9.3 billion. Egypt exports fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates to China. Chinese firms are involved in various Egyptian development projects. These include work in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and transportation infrastructure east of Cairo.
Trade, Industry, and Tech Cooperation Expand
Investment initiatives now cover manufacturing, renewable energy, telecommunications, and transport sectors. Chinese companies are active in industrial projects within the Suez Canal Economic Zone and other key areas. Egypt and China aim to collaborate more on electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and electronic equipment. Desalination parts also feature in their manufacturing goals. Technological cooperation now includes artificial intelligence and space sciences, diversifying the relationship beyond trade and infrastructure.
El-Sisi and Xi plan to review ongoing cooperation during their Cairo meetings. The Egyptian Presidency highlights political, economic, and development ties as key topics. Xi’s last visit to Egypt was in 2016, when cooperation was expanding across many sectors. This visit refocuses attention on their 70-year diplomatic relationship. Today, their partnership spans trade, large infrastructure projects, manufacturing, technology, and consistent presidential engagement.